Homeopathy for Keloid Scar
Any kind of skin injury including acne, cuts, or scrapes can at times leave a permanent scar on your skin. In some instances, that scar can grow excessively, becoming a large, lumpy growth, called a keloid, or a hypertrophic scar. Keloids are thick, fibrous scar tissues that have spread beyond the original site of injury during the body’s natural healing process. They develop in 5 to 15 percent of injuries and commonly develop and grow on the chest, back, arms and the upper part of the hand.
Keloids are an abnormal growth of scar tissue, as on the site of a surgical incision or an injury. It may have symptoms like irritation, pain, burning, itching etc. It may also be asymptomatic. It is benign and does not harm the person. But it looks ugly. So Keloids have got importance from cosmetic point of view.
A keloid is a
type of hypertrophic scar with mainly type I and some type III collagen
which results in an overgrowth of tissue at the site of a healed skin
injury. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules, and
can vary from pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown in color. A
keloid scar is benign, non-contagious, and usually accompanied by severe
itchiness, sharp pains, and changes in texture. In severe cases, it can
affect movement of skin. (Keloids should not be confused with
hypertrophic scars, which are raised scars that do not grow beyond the
boundaries of the original wound.)
A
keloid, sometimes referred to as a keloid scar, is a tough heaped-up
scar that rises quite abruptly above the rest of the skin. It usually
has a smooth top. Keloids are irregularly shaped and tend to enlarge
progressively. Unlike scars, keloids do not subside over time.
Causes and Symptoms of Keloids
CICATRICAL
• Infection of operation wounds.
• Burns.
• Pyodermas.
• Acne.
SECONDARY TO
• Injury.
• Ear piercing.
• Vaccination site.
• Injection site.
SPONTANEOUS
• Mosquito bite.
• Trauma.
• Scratching.
• Friction.
• Pressure.
• Brushing.
AGE
• 10-30 years.
SEX
• Common in females.
RACE
• Common in blacks.
CLINICAL FEATURES
ONSET
• Insidious.
• Develop very slowly, growing for several months.
LOCATION
• Chest, upper arms, back, sides of neck, ears.
SYMPTOMS
• Asymptomatic.
• Itching and pain.
LESION
• Starts as nodules or plaque.
• Gradually enlarging.
• Elevated.
• Firm consistency.
• Actively growing is red and itchy.
• Stable, long standing is dark brown.
• Irregular margins, with claw like extensions.
COMPLICATIONS
• Cosmetic disfigurement.
• May undergo malignant degeneration. The exact cause of keloids is still unknown, but a common scientific belief that when damage tears skin, collagen forms quickly at the injured area as part of the healing process. Keloids occur when an improper amount of collagen growth occurs in a scar. If there is debris in the wound, the collagen fibers will be laid erratically. Certain hereditary factors can also be held responsible for causing this disease. Formation of keloid scars generally takes place on sites of wounds or skin injuries caused by burns, surgical cuts, traumatic wounds, minor scratches, ear piercing and acne. Individuals with darker skin tone and higher amounts of melanin are more susceptible to formation of keloids.
Apart from the bumpy appearance, these irregular shaped lesions are characterized by symptoms like pain and itching but are not contagious. These lesions can also develop after surgeries or even after minor skin injuries like insect bites. Keloids are troublesome but not malignant (cancerous). This progressive disease can develop either suddenly after an injury or after a few months.
some instruction In subjects predisposed to formation of keloids:
• Avoid any kind of trauma.
• If surgery is essential, incision should be minimal.
• Avoid injections and ear pricking.
Treatment of Keloids
The methods now available to treat keloids are:
Cortisone
injections (intralesional steroids)
Surgery: This is risky, because cutting a keloid can trigger
the formation of a similar or even larger keloid. Some surgeons achieve success
by injecting steroids or applying pressure dressings to the wound site after
cutting away the keloid. Radiation after surgical excision has also been used.
Laser: The pulsed-dye laser can be effective at flattening keloids and making
them look less red. Treatment is safe and not very painful, but several
treatment sessions may be needed. These may be costly, since such treatments
are not generally covered by insurance plans.
Silicone sheets: This involves wearing a sheet of silicone gel on the
affected area for several hours a day for weeks or months, which is hard to
sustain. Results are variable. Some doctors claim similar success with
compression dressings made from materials other than silicone.
Cryotherapy: Freezing keloids with liquid nitrogen may flatten
them but often darkens the site of treatment.
Interferon: Interferons are proteins produced by the body's
immune systems that help fight off viruses, bacteria, and other challenges. In recent
studies, injections of interferon have shown promise in reducing the size of
keloids, though it's not yet certain whether that effect will be lasting.
Current research is underway using a variant of this method, applying topical imiquimod
(Aldara), which stimulates the body to produce interferon.
Fluorouracil: Injections of this chemotherapy
agent, alone or together with steroids, have been used as well for treatment of
keloids.
Radiation: Some doctors have reported safe and effective use of
radiation to treat keloids.
Keloids are very well treated with homeopathy. No surgical procedure is required. No injections are given. No creams or lotions are applied. Only oral medications are given without any diet restrictions. After starting the treatment, the Keloids starts to shrink slowly. One more advantage of homeopathic treatment is that it removes the tendency of having recurrent Keloids. Moreover all homeopathic medicines are safe, natural, easy to administer
Some useful Homeopathy remedies for keloids
Calc. fluor: Calc. fluor is to be used in the
homeopathic treatment of individuals who are injured or have stony hard and very
white scars that have formed on the body due to injuries. The formation of
keloids is common in such persons. The skin may harden and can get cracked,
extremely dry and fissured in places. Performing surgical operations on such
individuals becomes difficult, as the tissue does not adhere easily once
incisions are made. The lymph glands may harden in such individuals. Physical
symptoms include pain,
different kinds of infections and even ulcers among the different
types of problems in the areas where old scars are present. The scar tissue is
given to a lot of itching
sensations. There may be deposits and fibrous nodules in the joints, the
tissues in the joints may harden, adhesions may be present. The presence of any
of these symptoms requires the utilization of Calc. flour as a homeopathic
remedy.
Causticum: Causticum is to be used in the homoeopathic treatment of
individuals experiencing the formation of scar tissue as a result of burn
injuries, due to scalds and or as a result of burns from radiation sources.
These scar tissues may have never disappeared or even faded since the accident
or the incident occurred. Causticum can also be used against wounds that are
old and old scars that have cracked, and have broken or have become ulcerated
with the presence of soreness as a symptom. As a further physical symptom the ligaments,
and the joints including the tendons of such patients is given to contractions
and adhesions. The patient may experience a lot of stiffness in his or her
body. The removal of warts
may lead to the development of scar tissue or the reappearance of warts.
Causticum can also be used to heal keloid scars. The scars in such cases can
also be given to itchy sensations. The presence of one or any type of these
scars in an individual requires the utilization of Causticum as a homeopathic
remedy.Causticum: Best Homeopathic medicine for Keloid formation on scars due to burnsCausticum
ranks as the top natural Homeopathic medicine for Keloid formation
following burns. It works well in treatment of both Keloid formation
soon after burns and when old burn scars resurface and re-freshen,
leading to Keloid formation.
Graphites: Graphites is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of patients
with scarring who display the development of adhesions on the body, these
adhesions can be dissolved using Graphites. The presence of skin disease can lead to the
development of such scars in an individual. The formation of keloids is usual.
The scars are usually very hard and may harden. The patient may feel much better
when walking in the outdoors exposed to fresh air to relieve the burning,
painful and itching sensations in the scar tissue. Graphites can be used in the
treatment of scar tissue formed on breast after procedures like mastitis and other
surgical scars, also included are scars due to radiation and scars formed by
ulcers in the body. The glands of such patients tend to be swollen and
enlarged. The development on the site of old scars of ulcers and extreme
inflammation is usual and tumors including malignant forms like cancer often form. The
presence of any of these types of scars and or symptoms requires the use of
Graphites as a homeopathic remedy.Graphites: One of the best Homeopathic Medicines for Keloids in early stageGraphites
is a Homeopathic medicine of great help for the early stage of Keloid
formation. Graphites acts very effectively in the very beginning of
Keloid formation to absorb the scar tissue and dissolve the Keloid.
Homeopathic remedy Graphites puts a halt in the progression of Keloid,
followed by its complete disappearance.
Phytolacca: Phytolacca is to be used in the
homeopathic treatment of scar tissue formation in the region of the breast and
surrounding areas, this can also be used in cases of scarring around the lymph
glands or in areas around tonsils in the neck. These types of scar tissues are
characterized by the presence of keloids in the affected regions. Old wounds
and scars that have developed into malignant or benign tumors and show the
presence of abscesses
and inflammation in the affected region require this particular treatment. The
patient may experience drawing or constricting pains in the scar tissue. The
ligaments and tendons and musculature of the patient are almost always
afflicted by the formation of fibrous adhesions within them. Contractions are
experienced in all major muscle groups and in the joints of the body. The
patient suffers from stiff muscles with the presence of drawing or constricting
painful sensations. The condition of the patient greatly worsens when he or she
is exposed to any sort of pressure and to cold and damp weather. The appearance
of any scars of these types or the presence of any of these symptoms in an
individual requires the utilization of Phytolacca as a homeopathic remedy.
Silicea: Silicea is to be used in the homeopathic
treatment of individuals with the presence of keloid formation in the body as a
result of scar tissue. The scar tissue tends in appearance and feels to be
nodular and hard types of scars, which have a glassy or shiny appearance. The
bones of such patients may experience brittleness. Painful sensations seem to
emanate outward from the region of the scar tissues in scars that feel very
tender when felt. Physical signs like the oozing out of pus is often observed
as many of the old wounds on the body may reopen. Skin conditions such as acne and these types of
scars can be stalled from appearing and prevented or eliminated from the body
through the use of Silicea. Furthermore in the patients the rate of healing and
restoration of health is very low especially in the case of wounds and injuries
that are deep. Glass and the presence of external objects in the body including
splinters of wood, metal or stone can be eliminated through Silicea as it
encourages their removal. The patient develops keloids on the scar tissue and
may have ulceration on the affected parts as a symptom. The appearance of any
scars of these types on the affected person or the presence of any of these
symptoms requires the utilization of Silicea as a homeopathic remedy.Silicea: One of the Best Homeopathic medicines for Keloids that are PainfulSilicea
is an excellent natural Homeopathic medicine to deal with Keloids that
are painful. Silicea has a great power to decrease the pain and dissolve
the unnecessary cicatricial tissue resulting in formation of Keloids.
Silicea is one of the top Homeopathic medicines for keloids having an
affinity for treating a variety of skin diseases. In addition to painful
Keloids, excessive offensive sweat on feet and sensitivity towards cold
air may be present.
Thiosinaminum: Thiosinaminum is one of the most effective Homeopathic medicines to treat Keloids. This natural Homeopathic remedy is very strong and powerful enough to dissolve the scar tissue. It can be prescribed for the treatment of all kinds of Keloids irrespective of the cause. The use of Homeopathic medicine Thiosinaminum is totally free from side effects.One of the Best Homeopathic treatment for Keloids
Nitric Acid:A few patients having Keloids may also have sharp pains that feel like splinters and Nitric Acid is the most appropriate natural Homeopathic remedy for such patients. The Keloid looks irregular in shape and is often jagged in appearance. A very peculiar feature for using Homeopathic medicine Nitric Acid is highly offensive urine. One of the top Homeopathic medicines for Keloids with sharp, splinter-like pain